`FIRST LADY OF COLFAX' LIVES FOR KIDS : NORTH HOLLYWOOD SCHOOL PAYS TRIBUTE TO LONGTIME VOLUNTEER.

Byline: Sara Fornaris Daily News Staff Writer

Whether bandaging a scraped knee or kidding around to elicit a smile from a worried little face, Selene Hoffman always has been there for the children at Colfax Elementary School.

The 68-year-old registered nurse has volunteered at the North Hollywood school for nearly 40 years and, although most of the kids call her ``Mrs. Hoffman,'' the child-made oversize greeting card on her office wall addressed to ``The First Lady of Colfax'' speaks of how special she is to some.

``She's become a vital part of our school culture. She affects all of our lives and goes beyond her call in a quiet manner,'' said Shirley DiRado, the school principal for the past four years.

March 21 was ``Selene Hoffman Day'' at the school. And state Sen. Herschel Rosenthal, D-Van Nuys, recently picked her as the 20th Senatorial District's Woman of the Year.

``Every day I look forward to seeing my kids,'' said Hoffman, who lives in North Hollywood. ``But when I saw 600 kids performing songs and reading poems in my honor, it was overwhelming.''

Hoffman's job title is educational aide, but her duties go well beyond helping the district nurse, who comes once a week, and supervising the children in the school cafeteria.

``She makes holiday baskets, collects clothing and - with the help of the PTA - gets medical and dental assistance for needy students,'' said PTA member Linda Piller, whose daughters, Alex and Casey, attend the school.

``The woman is just great,'' Piller said.

Hoffman's connection to the school and the children who go there began in 1959, ``when I helped a second-grader who went into insulin shock and stopped breathing. I have been here ever since.'' The fruit of Hoffman's dedication is embodied in those whose lives she has changed.

``This woman has influenced my life in every way,'' said Peggy Bock, 43, a manager with Burbank Aircraft Supplies, a company co-founded by Hoffman's husband of 34 years, Joe. ``She has an incredible capacity to love and be there for her family and her friends.''

After her parents divorced when she was 9 years old, Bock said, Hoffman took her in as ``Daughter No. 5,'' and gave her the moral support she needed. ``If it had not been for the Hoffmans I would not be where I am today,'' Bock said.

Tzu-Chuan Lin, 31, also thanks Hoffman for his success in life. ``Her house was a sanctuary for everyone,'' said the Taiwanese native, now data center manager at Arco Products Co., a division of Atlantic Richfield Co.

``When things were hard at home, my two brothers and I would go to her house to see Danny (Hoffman's son),'' Lin said. ``We ate and slept there. She became my family. She gave me the strength and confidence to succeed.''

City Councilman Joel Wachs recently presented Hoffman with a plaque ``for her magnificent contribution as a volunteer parent,'' and the California Congress of Parents, Teachers and Students Inc. honored her with the Golden Oak Service Award for her ``outstanding service to children and youth.''

Since her 1987 heart surgery, Hoffman works only about four hours daily.

``But I want to keep working forever,'' she said. ``The children are our future and we need to see their smiles and their warmth as a gift to us.''

Each morning, after she helps prepare their breakfast trays, Hoffman plays the harmonica and sings for the children while they eat. Then she goes to the nurse's office.

By the entrance, a metal rack holds dozens of pieces of donated pieces of children's clothing. Hoffman takes the clothes home, washes them and brings them back.

``Sometimes the kids come too dirty or or need a jacket to keep warm. We have it here,'' said the soft-spoken nurse who loves music and dance, ``from line-dancing to the macarena.''

Almost every wall inside the office is covered with handmade cards, drawings, letters and photographs from the children. Educational information in Spanish and English, and posters showing different moods help the children know how they are feeling.

In a small box, she keeps all kinds of miniature toys that she hands out to children.

``I like to reward them when they do something good on their own initiative,'' she said.

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2 Photos

Photo: (1) Selene Hoffman, 68, of North Hollywood has been touching the lives of children at Colfax Elementary School for nearly 40 years.

(2) Educational aide Selene Hoffman dances with Colfax students.

Bob Halvorsen/Daily News